Saturday, July 19, 2008

HD #16

Well, all is stable at Mayo.  Michael will be able to get a minute by minute race report tomorrow for his Athletes for a Cure Team (Team Winter).  Thanks to modern day technology, his three athletes will be test marketing a new device to track athletes by satellite.  They will be 3 of the 40 racers at Ironman Lake Placid to be tracked for the entire portion of the bike and run (it's not water proof enough for the swim yet).  Anyone can go to www.myathlete.biz and select track athlete.  The username and password are ma3 for both for Dawn and Chris and ma4 for Ollie.  Then select their name (Dawn #178, Chris #179, Ollie #186) and follow along.

Athletes for a Cure has also put out an inspiring video on "youtube" featuring Michael & Team Winter.  They have not publicly released the video since they need to make a few minor changes but I will give you a glimpse of what they have done!  Go to the website listed in the right column. (If for some reason it doesn't come up, type Athletes for a Cure Team Winter in the search area of youtube and it will pop up.  I haven't quite mastered computers yet!)

We are determined to make a difference and lift Michael from this horrible disease and tomorrow is just one small step in doing that!

Special Thanks to Scott Zagarino and wife Greta at Athletes for a Cure
Dawn & Kids

23 comments:

Michelle Kelling said...

Dear Winter --

Your video on You Tube is AWESOME!!! I hope that you will always have the kind and generous spirit that you do today. You are a beautiful reflection of your parents and your willingness to "go public" with your family's very personal story is sure to be a help to so many other children who are going through similar situations -- YOU GO, GIRL!!! Perhaps we will meet sopmeday (I would be honored!). I am an old acquaintance of your Dad's and am following the blog and praying for you and for him every day. Michael -- my Mom asked about you today (she just came home from her own 30 day hospital say after an accident on Father's Day) and sends her good wishes to you as well. Hope today was a better day. Good wishes for the athletes tomorrow -- go get 'em!!!

Fondly,

Michelle (March) Kelling
Sheffield Village, OH

PS: I saw that someone on the blog (Slivinski Family) lives in Avon Lake, OH -- if I sneezed, they would catch my cold -- such a small world!!!

Beth Collins said...

Michael,
We watched the video on You Tube tonight...truely touching, it brought ud to tears. Sharing your story with our family has been a life altering experience. Our thoughts are still with you everyday. Looking forward to hearing that you are on your way home soon!
The Collins Family

Renee' Elias said...

What a great video to see, It was great to see and hear Michael! If you have a hard time getting the video just copy and paste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9ECCOWCvlg
What an example you show of family. You are in my thoughts and prayers Michael everyday.

Unknown said...

Good Luck Dawn! I know Michael will be with you in spirit! You can do it!

Cathy O'Connor

Becky said...

Michael,

Just checking in to make sure you are smiling!...

Winter is doing a great job and I know the rest of the kids are also a big influence on your recovery....

Keep smilin'

Becky

Unknown said...

Michael

It was great seeing you today, and I just LOVE the pink toenails :-) I watched your youtube video again after we got home. You really have a beautiful and amazing family! Keep up the great work Winter, you are awesome!
Patty Wilcox (Walther)
Cedar Rapids, IA

the parental unit said...

Mike and Dawn,
Patty sent me the link for your video on YouTube, I'm praying for your whole family for a cure! You've both done a fantastic job raising Winter (and the rest of your kids I'm sure!) she will carry on a legacy for the both of you.
God Bless you!

Lyne (Breckow) Lutz

Deb Howell said...

The youtube video was great. You looked good, Mike. You have an amazing family there. Hang in there and continue to fight the fight. Say hello to your parents for me (not sure if they are still with you or not).
I continue to keep you in my prayers.
Love, Deb

Matt Thornton said...

Michael, et al;

Nice video! You sure looked good when you were released (considering what you had been through)!

Hope everyone did well in Lake Placid... They are all winners in my mind :-)!

Just a quick note to say hello, and send some more cheer :-) and well wishes. Hope you are doing MUCH better (and it appears you are). Keep up the fight.

Have a Blessed day!

Matt

Matt Thornton said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
heidimw said...

Michael,

Here is one to use today...

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Sarah
Sarah who?
Sarah doctor in the house?

Ok...corny...I know...hopefully this finds you out and about and doing your own "Ironman" today!
Glad to see that things are going well for you and that you will be traveling home soon!

Congrats to Winter and Dawn on their athletic victories towards abolishing this cruddy disease. Your Youtube video brought tears to my eyes...you are a very inspiring family!

Just stopping by to say hello! Have a GREAT day!!!
Hugs,
Heidi (Hella)

jim said...

Michael-Hang in there-My family and I have been thinking about you and yours and praying for you. Hope to see you back in Michigan Soon

Jim Vander Veen
Sheridan Auction Company
Integrity Bay Real Estate
616-262-4354
Hudsonville, MI

Nicole Valuet said...

Hey Vinecki Family!

I have been following your blog daily and I want you all to know what an inspiration your family is! What a team you guys make...it's awsome to see! The video is great, though it made me cry...I could not figure out how to check out the race though, and did not have a small child handy to show me how to navigate the site. I hope you all did great! Hope to hear that you'll be back in town soon!

Nicole Valuet

Matt Thornton said...

Michael-

Thought for the day as you work at healing: Have you considered writing an article for the "Gavel", & or the "Auctioneer"? Would be good for a lot of us to know what led you to the DR. in the first place, or if its discovery was during a "routine" visit.

Thanks in advance! BTW- still waiting on an update on the NY events :-)

One more thought~ When you are up to it; can you/will you (if your wife will let you hehehe)update the blog with your own reports???
Hope today has been good to & for you.

Matt

KennyLindsay said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KennyLindsay said...

"Have you considered writing an article for the "Gavel", & or the "Auctioneer"? - Matt Thorton

Thorton!

What are you trying to do? Get me fired from the Gavel or the Auctioneer?

How would you like it if I suggested for Vinicki to prance around in a pink jacket or wear women's underwear? You would not like it.

Becky said...

Well now,

That's an article for the Gavel!!

But Michael's already got the Pink Toenails!!

But I also have to say, I don't want to see a photo of this!! just the description puts a nightmare in my mind! I may never sleep again.

Michael, I hope you are still improving... Keep Safe...

and...

Keep Smilin'

Becky

Anonymous said...

Wow, it's turned into a regular MSAA discussion forum in here. Michael, I would never ask you to write an article while you are in recovery, that's for sure, but I do expect you to sport the pink toenails at convention!

Seriously though, hope you are feeling better every day. I do plan to print something this issue about Winter's hard work and how people can contribute. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Tricia Wiltjer
MSAA

jan said...

Michael: I am anxiously awaiting an update on your progress. I check the blog everyday before I do anything else. I think about you constantly and pray for your healing. You have so many friends as well as strangers that care deeply for you and your well-being. I am hopeful all is progressing in a positive way. Take care. jan

the parental unit said...

Hey Michael and Dawn (and kids),
Still praying for you daily, hoping that things are going well for you there.
I was wondering if it would be possible to get a home address for you, and one for the hospital if you're still there? If so, you could email it to me; lynelutz@yahoo.com

God Bless,
Lyne

Matt Thornton said...

Michael-

Hope the saying "no news is good news" is holding true! Just checking in on your status.

Also wanted to let you know I was thinking about you before I got busy setting up for Sunday's Auction. Hope you are still improving!

Have a great weekend!

Matt

Nicole Valuet said...

Hi again Vinecki's!

I just wanted to add to my last post a bit. I think this entire family deserves huge kudos for the way that they have all handled this ugly situation.

Dawn has done an incredible thing by starting this blog in an effort to keep us all informed. This on top of juggling a stressful full time (and then some..) job, four kids and having to deal with her own emotions in regard to this....wow! Thank you for keeping us all in the loop, we know that it's not easy for you to do all that you are doing right now.

I think it's wonderful, too, that you all have chosen to fight this together...in whatever way you each can. By this I mean that rather than sitting around and feeling helpless and at the mercy of this disease, you have chosen to attack it as a family by raising money to fight it! What better way than through sports? What a great way to help your kids feel that they have some power to help dad and keep them busy so they don't dwell!!

Cancer certainly is ugly and can make the loved ones of the affected person feel powerless...good for all of you for regaining some much needed control by participating in the fight alongside Michael!!

Nicole Valuet

heidimw said...

Michael...

A Joke of the day for you...

A state trooper pulls over a woman on a lonely back road and says, "Ma'am, is there a reason why you're weaving all over the road?"
The woman replied, "Oh officer, thank goodness you're here! I almost had an accident! I looked up and there was a tree right in front of me. So, I swerved to the left and there was another tree in front of me. Then, I swerved to the right and there was another tree in front of me!"
The officer reached through the side window to the rear view mirror, and explained, "Ma'am... that's your air freshener."

Just stopping by to say hello! Hope you are out and about (running down the halls) and gaining some poundage! Not a day goes by without me checking in and reading your blog...you are in my thoughts!

Wishing you a GREAT day with lots of smiles...

Hugs,
Heidi (Hella)
heidimw@yahoo.com